Is Mesothelioma Only Caused by Asbestos?
Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer that affects the thin layer of tissues that line various organs within the body, most often the lung (pleural mesothelioma), intestines and heart. People who are exposed to asbestos are at higher risk.
Asbestos is a group of minerals that create long, thin fibers. It was used for military, commercial and residential items during the 20th century. The manufacturers were aware of its risks, but hid them to increase profits.
Causes
Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral that is resistant to chemicals and heat. It was used in manufacturing various household and commercial products in the past, including floor tiles, insulation and brake linings. However, asbestos is a danger because it breaks into tiny, needle-like fibers that can irritate the organs' tissues which could result in cancerous cells.
Mesothelioma is more frequent in people who work with asbestos, or are exposed to asbestos on the job or at home. 70% to 80% of those diagnosed with mesothelioma had prior exposure to asbestos. It typically takes between 20 to 50 years for symptoms to manifest after the initial exposure. Anyone with mesothelioma-related relatives also have a higher risk of developing it.
When exposed to asbestos fibers may be breathed into the lungs. The fibers then travel to the pleura or the lining around the lungs and cause irritation it. This could lead to pleural disease and fluid buildup in the lungs. This can cause breathing difficulties.
Mesothelioma can also be found in the tissues that line the heart, abdomen, or intestines. Most often, a mesothelioma patient has been exposed asbestos while at work. This type of exposure is different than that in which a person is exposed to asbestos in their home, for instance, when family members remove asbestos-containing insulation from the walls and ceilings of their homes.
Scientists are investigating if certain genes could increase your risk of developing mesothelioma. Even with these asbestos-related genes, exposure is still necessary to develop mesothelioma. Rare mesothelioma cases can be traced to minerals like silica or Erionite that are associated with asbestos. Some people may be more prone to mesothelioma due to the way asbestos is broken down. This isn't a well-known risk factor however, and it doesn't explain why one person would develop the disease while another may not.
Symptoms
Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma cancer in any of the body linings. It can also form in the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) or in the abdomen, as well as the heart. It can also form in the testicles.
The signs of mesothelioma typically develop slowly over a lengthy time. Symptoms can be similar to those of other diseases which is why people are often misdiagnosed in the early stages of mesothelioma. The symptoms can take up to 50 years to appear and, therefore, a person may have been exposed for years before forming mesothelioma. The cancer can spread to various parts of the human body in about the same time.
Coughing, chest pain, and breathing problems are all symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Patients may also experience other signs also, including fatigue, abdominal pain and weight loss. The most common manifestation is fluid accumulation in the lung (pleural effusion). Pleural mesothelioma can affect the lining of the lungs and chest cavity, also known as the pleura. The cancer causes the lining of the lungs to thicken, which makes it difficult for the lung to expand when breathing.
Doctors can diagnose pleural mesothelioma by taking a sample of tissue from the affected area and doing some tests. A biopsy can identify the type of mesothelioma malignant and how widely it's spread, and whether it's benign or malignant.
If doctors suspect mesothelioma they can refer the patient to a specialist for further tests. The specialist can conduct a biopsy as an outpatient. The patient may leave the hospital on the same day.
Mesothelioma may be rare however it is important to be detected as soon as possible. There is no cure for the disease, however treatment can manage symptoms and reduce its severity.
Treatment
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, a class of minerals that have thin flexible, elastic fibers. Asbestos is a strong, fire-resistant material and doesn't conduct electricity therefore it was used in various industrial applications like building materials, insulation ships, brakes, ships and some kinds of flooring. Exposure can occur when these products become dusty and brittle and then break down. mesothelioma is a cancer caused by what can cause irritation when inhaled or consumed, which can lead to mesothelioma. The signs of mesothelioma generally do not manifest until a long time after exposure. It can affect the lung lining (pleural mesothelioma) as well as the stomach's lining (peritoneal mesothelioma) or the lining of the heart (pericardial mesothelioma).
The only way to identify mesothelioma is through medical testing. The doctor will examine the patient and ask about their work history. They will also perform scans to check the chest or abdomen for any signs of abnormalities. These tests can include X-rays, CT scans, MRI or PET scans.
If mesothelioma diagnosis is possible, doctors will request samples of fluid or tissue for further analysis. Under a microscope, they will look for cancerous cells in order to determine the type of mesothelioma that the patient is suffering from. There are three kinds of mesothelioma: epithelioid (most common), the sarcomatoid (second most prevalent) and biphasic. The epithelioid form accounts for 70 percent of mesothelioma cancer cases. The sarcomatoid type is the most uncommon. The biphasic type is a combination of the two types above and is more difficult to treat than any type separately.
Mesothelioma treatment options depend on the mesothelioma type, the stage of the disease and other factors. Some types of mesothelioma are more aggressive than others, and the outlook is generally worse for patients with late-stage mesothelioma.
Patients with mesothelioma can be treated through chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy. These treatments can be painful for some patients, and they can cause adverse effects such as nausea fatigue, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. However, these effects are typically temporary and can be managed with medication or other techniques. Patients may receive radiation following surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells that surgeons missed during surgery.
Prognosis
Asbestos can cause serious medical problems despite its widespread use and reputation as a durable and economical product. Mesothelioma is just one of these diseases. It develops on the tissues of organs and structures like the lungs and heart. The signs of mesothelioma usually take a long time to manifest, but treatment can help to manage the disease and decrease symptoms.
Asbestos is comprised of microscopic fibers that can enter the body and become embedded in the linings of certain tissues. Asbestos is a mineral found naturally that has been used for many years in products ranging from textiles to insulation.
When asbestos is disturbed, it transforms into airborne and can be inhaled or ingested. Inhaling asbestos fibers are deposited into the lungs where they can cause irritation to cells until they damage DNA and turn into malignant. After ingestion, the asbestos fibers are digested, and then move through the digestive tract to the outer abdominal lining (peritoneum) where they may cause inflammation and eventually lead to mesothelioma.
Secondhand exposure to asbestos can also happen if you live in a house where someone has been exposed to asbestos. Workers can expose family members to asbestos fibers if they bring home stray asbestos fibers from their skin, clothing or hair. A mesothelioma-related family history increases the chance of developing the disease.
There are two types of mesothelioma: pleural as well as peritoneal. Pleural mesothelioma forms in the chest lining and the lungs. It is the most frequent mesothelioma. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is caused asbestos fibers that penetrate the linings that surround the abdominal cavity or organs. This kind of mesothelioma is more prevalent than pleural and affects the lining of the abdomen.
Asbestos is a poisonous mineral that could cause various types of cancers, as well as other diseases like mesothelioma lung cancer and asbestosis. However, asbestos' risks were not well-known until the early 1980s when companies began to recognize its dangers. Before that, blue-collar industries and the military routinely used asbestos in products like flooring, roofing insulation, brake linings and insulation.